Following an adrenaline-fuelled day on the track, in which partners and guests experienced the thrill of a hot-lap from Envision Racing’s Sebastien Buemi, the conversation in Atlanta shifted from speed to sustainability, as industry leaders gathered to tackle one of the defining challenges of our time: how to decarbonise the systems that keep the world moving.
The evening brought together experts from across energy, transport, and infrastructure to explore how electrification is reshaping some of the most complex and hard-to-abate sectors.
The panels were moderated by Dr. J. Rhett Mayor, Interim Chief Catalyst and Interim Associate Dean for Faculty & Graduate Student Affairs – an expert in thermal sciences, electro-mechanical machine design, and micro-manufacturing.
Powering the Transition: Rethinking the Grid
Rhett guided a technically rich discussion featuring:
- Chris Shigas, who leads the ABB NASCAR Electrification Partnership and drives industry relationships across electrification and industrial motors
- Charles Hume, Managing Director of Southwire Technology Ventures, with over 20 years’ experience spanning engineering, startups, and business development
- Dr. Deepak Divan, Founder and CEO of GridTran and Professor Emeritus at Georgia Tech
- Rory Comiskey, Senior Advisor, Trainer, TV Host, and Author at FutureworX
Together, the panel unpacked how the electricity grid is being fundamentally re-engineered to meet the dynamic demands of a decarbonising world.
The panellists highlighted how digitalisation and automation are enabling real-time optimisation, allowing operators to better balance supply and demand while integrating renewable energy at scale.
Battery storage was another focal point. Once primarily associated with electric vehicles, it is now emerging as a critical tool for grid stability, helping manage peak loads, smooth intermittent renewable generation, and improve resilience. Advances in power electronics and distributed energy systems are also opening the door to more flexible, responsive grid architectures.
Looking ahead, the panel emphasised that the future grid will not simply be bigger – it will be smarter. Optimisation, rather than expansion alone, will define high-performing systems, with distributed generation and intelligent controls reshaping how electricity is produced, shared, and consumed.
Reimagining Global Gateways: Ports and Airports
In the second panel, Rhett steered a wide-ranging discussion on the decarbonisation of global transport hubs.
Joining him were:
- Dr. Quinta Nwanosike Warren, Ph.D., PE, PMP, Senior Director of Sustainability at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and a distinguished chemical engineer and energy leader
- Colin Graves, Vice President of Innovation at ADM
- Stephan Hardt, Sales Vice President for Ports and Airports at Southwire, focused on delivering electrical infrastructure solutions for large-scale transport hubs
The discussion explored how ports and airports are evolving into energy-intensive, digitally enabled systems that must balance operational efficiency with ambitious sustainability goals.
At the airport level, Quinta shared insights into how large-scale hubs are integrating renewable energy, expanding EV infrastructure, and deploying real-time energy monitoring to enhance both sustainability and resilience. These efforts reflect a broader shift toward treating airports not just as transit points, but as interconnected energy systems in their own right.
From an infrastructure perspective, Stephan Hardt highlighted the critical role of cabling, grid readiness, and electrical systems in enabling electrification at scale. Without these foundational upgrades, the transition simply cannot happen.
Meanwhile, Colin Graves brought the customer lens, outlining how global logistics and commodities players are rethinking supply chains to reduce emissions while maintaining speed and reliability. This requires not only technological innovation, but also closer collaboration across industries and value chains.
A key takeaway from the session was the growing alignment between business performance and climate impact. Electrification and efficiency are no longer viewed as competing priorities – they are increasingly intertwined, driving both resilience and long-term competitiveness.
Across both panels, one message stood out: the transition to a low-carbon future is no longer theoretical, it is actively underway.
With expert voices spanning grid innovation, infrastructure, and global logistics, the discussions underscored the importance of cross-sector collaboration in accelerating progress. The technologies exist, the strategies are emerging, and the momentum is building.
